Shackdwellers

The Shackdwellers Movement, or Abahlali baseMjondolo (ABM), are a movement of the poor in South Africa, at the forefront of emerging global struggles of the poor for a right to a decent life and a right to housing. After what appears to be an ANC sponsored attack on leaders of the movement many have fled for their safety. Armed forces now occupy the Kennedy Road settlements where the attacks occurred and the local ANC government has established ID card checks for all who wish to participate in meetings.

Click through for: Eyewitness Video | An Update from Abahlali baseMjondolo |  Background on the Attacks | How to Support

Dear Mandela is a film produced by Christopher Nizza and Dara Kell -- film makers of Sleeping Giant -- about the struggles against displacement by South Africans living in shack settlements. Those of us whoparticipatedin last fall's round of video making classes with Our City Our Voices learned a lot from these film makers and the beauty of this particular film. Together, we also were able to reflect on the conditions in which the shackdwellers both live and struggle and how it relates to our lives in the US.